TOYOTA’s Hilux remains firmly in first place with 4287 sales last month, easily outscoring the Ford Ranger which was up from third place to second with 3588 units sold.

The Corolla was down from second to third with 2948 sales, well ahead of the Hyundai Tuscon that rose nicely from ninth to fourth with 2206 sold.

The August result of 96,662 was 1.8 per cent more than for the same month last year and continues the industry’s steady growth in 2017.

Industry sales over the eight months to the end of August totalled 788,968, compared with 784,380 for the same period in 2016.

Comparing the August outcome with that of the corresponding month in 2016, sales of small SUVs grew significantly by 22.8 per cent, and medium SUVs by 14 per cent. SUV sales of all kinds amouned to 38,118 from total sales of 96,662.

The biggest mover this month was the Volkswagen Golf, up 12 places from 28 to 16. The biggest loser was the Nissan X-Trail down 16 spots from 14 to 30.

By Daniel Cotterill